pour for (who or what something is for, and where something or someone is going)

C’est un cadeau pour toi.

It’s a present for you.

Nous voudrions une chambrepour deux nuits.

We’d like a room for two nights.

le train pour Bordeaux

the train for Bordeaux

Note that pour can also be used with infinitives, when it has the meaning of in order to.

Elle téléphone pour savoir à quelle heure on arrivera.

She’s ringing to find out what time we’ll get there.

Pour aller à Nice, s’il vous plaît?

Which way is it to Nice, please?

sans without

Elle est venue sans son frère.

She came without her brother.

un café sans sucre

a coffee without sugar

un pull sans manches

a sleeveless sweater

Note that sans can also be used before infinitives in French. In English a verb form ending in -ing is used after without.

Elle est partie sans dire au revoir.

She left without saying goodbye.

sauf except

Tout le monde vient sauf lui.

Everyone’s coming except him.

sous under

sous la table

under the table

sous terre

underground

sur on

Pose-le sur le bureau.

Put it down on the desk.

Ton sac est sur la table.

Your bag is on the table.

Vous verrez l’hôpital sur votre gauche.

You’ll see the hospital on your left.

un livre sur la politique

a book on politics

Note that à and sur can both mean on in English. sur usually means on the top of something. sur la télé means on top of the TV set, but à la télé means broadcast on TV. Both can be translated as on the TV in English. sur le mur means on top of the wall, but au mur means hanging on the wall.

TipWith numbers and measurements sur can also mean in, out of and by.

une personne sur dix

one person in ten

J’ai eu quatorze sur vingt en maths.

I got 14 out of 20 in maths.

La pièce fait quatre mètres surdeux.

The room measures four metres by two.

vers towards (a place), at about

Il allait vers la gare.

He was going towards the station.

Je rentre chez moi vers cinq heures.

I go home at about 5 o’clock.

voici (meaning this is, here is) and voilà (meaning there is, that is) are two very useful prepositions that French speakers often use to point things out.